Yarn-changing mechanism for knitting-machines.



A. N. AIVIES.

YARN {AIHANGING MECHANISIVI FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26. 1912.

Patented Jan. 29 NI?,

5 HEETS`SHEETI A. N. AMES. YARN CHANGING MECHANISN FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26. 1912.

Patented Jan. 2,191?.

5 SNfTs-sHssr 2.

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212@ @56e li.

A. N. AMES.

YARN CHANGING NIECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLCATlON FlLED SEPLZG, i912.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. N. AMES.

YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR `K`NI`TTINC MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-26,1912.

Patented Jun. 2, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 A. N. AMES.

YARN CHANGING MECHANISNI FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED sEPLzs, 1912.

"l ,21 0.88 l Patented J an. 2, 1917'.

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ARTHUR N. AMES, O35 FRANKLIN, NEW HAMSHIBE, ASSGNGR, BY MESE? MACHINE CGMPANY, O'E FRANKLIN, FEVI 'll MENTS, CMMERCIAL CORTEORAIOITl OE' MASSACHUSETTS.

Continuation in part of application Serial No.A 635,245, filed .Tune

'serial No. 722,515.

T 0 all whom t may concern .Be it known that l, ARTHUR N. Mns, a

This invention relates to knitting imachines, especially ol the circular type, the machine being designed particularly for knitting stockings, although l do not limit myself, in all features of my invention, to hosiery-lrnittingjr machines. ln the following description, however, l shall refer to stockings or hosiery, because in such articles of apparel there is more occasion than in any other `article for changing the yarns or threads employed.

lPortions of the features of invention claimed herein are divided out ltrom my application which became -Patent No. 1,052,877, granted February 11, 1913, to `which patent reference may be had Jfor description of specilic means of operatimgr the mechanism claimed herein, and to which patent reterence may also he had 'for more complete description of the purpose of the various 'yarns eo", wg, 103, fw4 and the times when they are severally employed.

rlhe principal 'object of the invention claimed herein is to provide impro vcd mechanism for changing the yarn or thread to simplify and facilitate the operation oi' the knitting machine. To this end the invention consists in the improvements which l shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Gf the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a. complete knitting machine embodying mi present improvements g' Fig. 2 is an elevation ci" the mechanisn'i at the top oi Fig. l, on a larger scale, and 'showing also the driving` mechanism therefor; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. l, hut enlarged and the thread cops removed; Fig. e is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 isa detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. partly broken vout; l represents a section on line 7 of Fig. 3.; Fig. 8 is a` plan view oi' the latch Specification of Letters Patent.

ne, 19H. This application 'flied mechanism shown in Fig. 8; sents a section on line lill0 1l is a detail plan oit the p Fig. l2 is a view similar to llif l roken out to illustrate further 13 represents a section en line l Fig. 1Q; Fig. le represents a sectieto the right ot said line.; l.

a section on line l-ili of En?.

Similar reference characters in same or similar parts in all :aq-rires.

Referring iirst to 'i i main frame is indicated z supporting a fixed ring l@ the cam cylinder i7 is rotata A post 1S rotates with the cani f communicates the motion ther-'eo lOl, as hereinafter described. ring` is indicated at i9, said latch il, pivotally connected 22 to an er the cam cylinder, the other side of ring being' supported by en arno. o' cam cylinder. Rising fronrthe the main Atranie is a. bracket 23 posts 24.-, 25 which suppe 5 a lira ing,` a bed-plate 27 for the'yarn-introducing devices. For a detail description and illustration of lthe parte so far referred to, reiflied-plate 27, how ver, suppe mg 9.8 off the type illustrated ano.

No. 722,5'l-l.

rlhe t vister indicated at l l and is driven through the shaft 30 having a dislr 3l ielio... i f to be shifted into and out ci? con' disk 3Q on the upper end of a vs 33, the latter havingfa lf-cot dieu upon the periphery of a drive cured to a continuously operating sha lhe twister-rotating shaft 30 has its end supported in a bearing; Pied by a lever 37 which in turn is controlled thv Cgli the medium oi a lever 38 and a pa trolled rod connected to said lever the lever 3S is oscillated er .sv-Jung i direction it separates thetdisl; e 'lfrc'r Si', and then a toe 'of the lever m" lil@ the, letter through sho'ffvn hJrein, eci/nettes slide or tlireedfehengng arms :nner deseribedn is tvrovided ith e throat 8@ ter passage of he yarn i changed. rlhe rttes es ilnstreted and de id patent., but they do not leest not sutil 'V0 i my se m the slet 80; er it ide crhold the thread. f t mentioned result fi employ en tering wo erins "oted "il to e me l rinj7 the eilter in wiel-tion to ,n tirough slot et the the needles of the ineinder rer the cressing the -ff and the ether is always iitches of the needles Jrito the closed er the herne senses bridge ring 'trie thread. (if loop et trete getting over She 'purpose of the or yarn er hold it Y Si) mer the hes ds L; idggingg the lewer 9"" tcguard latches et I iwf :i somewhat il s :armsE is not' action. The gates 90 presently described serve the purpose of prevent-ing breaking oI needle latches when the needles are up und mit of action, while one or the other of the two arms .of the oscillating member 8l pre- Vent breaking needle latches when the needles are down. So far es l am aware, I ein the first to provide dil'erent ineens in two dit'erent ele 'ations 'for bridging the slot or opening oi a latch ring to avoid any liebility of breaking needle latches not only when they ere up and out ot' action but also when they,7 ere down und in action.

Each erin 59, has gelte to close the portien of slot above the plane ot' the oscillating member 8L so that, when the needles are elevated to their highest positions, the latches cannet catch said slot. Each gate comprises e plete 90 hsving'en inner flange l and an outer flange The plate 9() is pivoted to its arm 59 or 30 93 :ind has e slot 9e threugh which e screw 95 passes into the whereby the plate end its flanges muy be adjusted relatively to its carrying erm. bviously, each plate 90 might be mede of two pieces instead of one, if desired. the arms 59, 6G swing'as hereinbetore d scribed the flange 91 ot one plate 9G end the flange 92 et the other plate 90 alternately occupy edge to edge positionsas indicated in Fig. 8.

As shown in l 3, 4f. and 5, the guide ring,l 39 is carried by en arm 1GO suitably supported by the bracket 23. Within the ring 39 is a. ring lOl (Figs. lf2 and 13) having :in arm 99 (Fig. 7") which is engaged by the post 18 rising from the cem cylinder so that seid ring 'l0/l psr-trikes of all movements of the cani cylinden Mounted within the ring lOl is n disleshaped lon-li: carrier 102 (Figs. 3 end l5), said carrier having e hub 103 7) secured to the lowerend of the tubular member fl-0 of the hollow shaft. Also secured up'mi the tubular member 40 is e hub LO having arins lOl, two of the letter supporting posts k10 :tor the supply of thread. Fitted to parallel ways of Ihe crir- I rier 102, and between said Carrier and the lower end or 105, is e loch slide 107 which, as hereinafter described, is moved to unlock when the clutch of the driving mechanism is shifted to produce the heel or split foot et e stocking, and is shifted to lock when the clutch is shifted for'rotery or round-andround knitting. The slide 10T is provided with eyes 108 which are, of course, in register with similar apertures above and below them formed in :i rms i04- And in carrier 102, es shown in l'fig. i3, so as to permit the threads w3, w* to pass, these latter.l however, always passing,` es shown in Fig., l, entside of the lower extension member oF` the tubular shaft s0 to never conflict with each other or with thefinein threed '102 or the :reintorcn ing thread w".-

To cause the slide 107 to automatically shift to lock, it is provided with a tongue 109 having a cam-shaped outer end which is adapted to engage with a lug 110 of the guide ring 39 so as to shift the slide toward the right in Fig. 4; A spring 11 engaging a pin 112 of the slide 107 yieldingly pushes said slide in the same direction. The slide 107 is formed with a downwardly depending ,lug 113 adapted to enter a recess or keeper 114 in the ring 101. (See Figs. 4 and 13). The purpose of the cam tongue 109 and the lug 110 is to supplement the action of the spring 111 to render it certain that the lug 113 will enter the recess or keeper 114 at the proper time. During reciprocating knitting the slide 107 is locked to the guide ring 3f), as presently described, while during r0- tary or continuous knitting the slide 107 is locked to the ring 101. As the slide 107 can'- not rotate independently of the carrier 102, owing to the parallel ways supporting it, and since the hub of said carrier 102 and the hub of the thread carrier arms 104 are secured to the tubular said tubular shaft and the thread carrier arms 104 and the lock carrier 102 must always either reciprocater or rotate or remain stationary together.

The slide 107 has a lock tongue 115 opposite the cam tongue 109, said tongue 115 being adapted to contact with a stop shoulder 116 (Figs. 4- and 13) carried by a slide 117 so that when said slide 117 and its shoulder 116 are in position nearest the axis of movement of the carrier 102, rotation of the latter will be stopped. The slide 117 is' provided with a cam block 118 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to beengaged by an elbow lever 119 to advance said slide to stopping position in opposition to a suitable spring. The elbow lever 119 is connected by a link 120 with one arm of an elbow lever 121, the other arm of which is connected to a rod 122 (Figs. 3 and 5), said rod being connected to the same pattern-controlled mechanism' that changes the yarns or threads, as explained in my said patent. To

vprevent rebound of the lock carrie'r and its slide 107 when the tongue 115 contacts with the stop shoulder 11G, 1 provide a latch 123 pivoted to the slide 117, said latch having a portion adapted to be engaged by the tongue 115 as the latter passes around so as to lift the latch and let the tongue 115 pass, said latch dropping behind the tongue 115 as soon as the latter reaches stop shoulder 11G.

Secured to the upperA tube 40 (Fig. 2) is a hub 124 having ears provided with thread eyes 125 (Fig. 15) and having arms 126 provided with thread eyes 127. Slidably mounted onv the tube 40 above the hub 124 is .is provided with cams 134, 135

shaft member 40, the I :nemesi engaged by" a pin 13G projecting rom controlling lever 38. As described in my concurrently iiled application Serial No. 722,514, the controlling lever 38 affects the operation of, the twister 29 for the reinforcing thread, and the cutter 137 for said thread, while the taken?` 138 is controlled by a bell crank lever 139. l1s the bell crank lever 38 swings, its pin `130 cow acts with the cams 134, 135 to actuate the lever 131 in opposition to a spring 140, to cause said lever to hold sleeve 128 in either one o1" two positions of elevatiorn to control the tensions for the two threads 103,104, which pass from the 'Dobbins or cops up tl'irough the eyes 127, across the upper surface o1' disk-shaped.portions oi the arms 126, and down through. the eyes 125. To bear on each thread with automatically variable pressure, 1 employ a tension pad 141 (Figs. 1, 2 and 15) carried a lever 142 pivoted at 143 to arm 126 and having .its other` end pressed upwardly by a spring; 144 mounted in a. recess in arm 126, an adjustu ing screw 145 being pressure that the spring may cause the pad 141 to have on the thread under it, when permitted to act by the mechanism herein after described.

Another lever 146 is mounted on each pivot 143 and has its long arm engaging the under side of the ange 147' 'of sleeve 123, each lever 146 being caused to follow. vertical movements of said sleeve, by a spring 148 mounted in a recess or socket in arm 126, the force of said spring being variably controlled by an adjusting screw 149. Each lever 146 is provided with lugs 150, 151 near its fulerum, adapted to alternately contact with the lever 142 below it, to roclr theiatter.

The operation of this portion of the chine, andthe timing of the movements imm parted to the several elements thereof, is such that when the machine is doing even reciprocating knitting the tension pads press on the threads with only the force of springs 144, this being the operation indicated. in Fig. 2. By the term even reciprocating knitting, 1 mean the operation when reciprocations are equal in length or distance, as distinguished from the narrowing and widening at the heel and toe. `When the elbow lever 38 is shifted in the direction ci' the arrow so that its pin 136 is off from cam 135, which is when the machine is lr iitting continuously or doing plain circuiar knitting, the spring 140 aetuates iever 131 so as to depress sleeve 128 and the long arms of levers 146, the lugs 151 o1 the latter acting on levers 1.#2 to raise pads 141 vand re lieve the threads of all tension. The spring 140 is, in practice, of sufficient strength to overpower the springs 144, 148, when permitted to do so by the in 1363. When the elbow lever 38 is shite in the opposite diliti reiosei section so pin 186 is on cam 134: of

lever 131, which is when the machine is narrowing and Widening, at heel or toe of stocking, the sleeve 128 is raised to its highest position, and tlien.tlie two springs #lo supplement the tension-applying power .T springs 1li, by causing the lugs 150 of levers i5-t1 to bear doivn on the portions of levers 1%2 between their fulcruins and the pads t causing the pads to bear on 'threads heavily'.

Eis has been explained, the tension is oit rom the threads io", w* when pin 136 is otf roin the Canis ol lever 131. At' this time, it is essential that the spring take-np arms 1 shovfn vin Fig. ,12 and presently deiiod, shall be thrown in so that the thread eyes llthereot will be near the eyes 10S of arms .l-i, and said take-up arms remain out ction. l will noiv describe the structure operation orn these spring takenps, rerc especially to Figs. 3, 5, G, 7, 12

ted on the hub 105 (Figs. 5 and 7) sleeve or collar l-l having a notch l155 iS i',-

v 'in its .lo-ver edge. A pin or lug 156 of slide T (see also Fig. fl) engages said notch so that the reciprocations ot' the slide Will imoscillating rotary movements to the collar Said collar has arms 157, to each ot which is pivoted slide rod 158, the enter end, which passes through a bearing 159 (Fig. 12) supported by two of the arms lil-it. Each s ,ring take-np 152 is pivoted to an arni 1 0-1 at 150 and has a heel or short arin ll which is connected a spring 162 ses 'he take-ups to follow moveoi. lne aiins 157 ot' the collar 15d so that when the latter is shifted by the slide 10? (which occurs when vthe machine is changing' 'from reciprocating to circular motlie eyes 153 are thrown in close to the 108, thus permitting 'the thread or yarn to pass so straight through the eyes as to have the slightest possible friction teni said oivn. in (l, the upper edge of the collar 1nd ont away to form a cam 163 vwhich is engaged by the lower end of a vertically movable rod 1M, the upper end olf iva-ich {Fig 2)' engages the sleeve 128. lli/lhen'the :machine is changing from circular to reciprocit'ng motion, the cam 163 imparts to the rod lil/t snliicient inotion to raise the sleeve t28 te the same point that results lroif t ie movement ot' pin 136 on to cam 135, which, as has been explained, causes the pads ld'l. to bear on the yarns or threads with the pressure of the'single springs 144C. in 10 a needle is shown in lowered position. When the needle is raised, its latch might become displaced and rest on top of the latch :ring 19. rlio guard against any such displaced latch being broken by lateral 'contact with a. :when approaching the latter, each flange or gate 91, 92 is beveled laterally and np ardly, as shoivn at 165 in Fig. 10, so that such bevel will deliect a displaced hitch back to upright or closed p0- sition.

Having described niy invention, l claim: 1f. A knitting machine having yarn changing mechanism including yarn feeds, means for reciprocating said feeds, a guide ring, and a vertically adjustable cylindrical ineniber normally extending below said ring to separate the yarns leading to the needles during reciprocating knitting.

2. A knitting machine lia ving yarn changing mechanism including yarn feeds, means for reciprocating said feeds, a guide ring, and a telescopic tube having its loner menibcr normally extending below said ring to separate the yarns leading to thc needles during reciprocating knitting.

3. A knitting machine having yarn changing mechanism including yarn feeds, means for reciprocatirnt said feeds, a guide ring, and a telescopic tube having its lower ineinber normally extending below said ring, to separate the yarns leading to the needles during lreciprocating knitting, the upper member having a vertical slot.

4. In a knitting machine a latch ring having a slot for the passage of threads, a yarn changer comprising a pair of thread guides pivotally mounted on vertical axes at opposite sides of said slot, the guides being movable through said slot, a segment slide, means for actuating said slide and connections whereby said slide will swing thev thread guides in opposite directions.

5. ln a knitting machine a. latch ring having a slot for the passage ot' threads, a yarn changer comprising a pair of thread guides pivotally mounted on vertical axes at opposite sides ot said slot, the guides being movable through said slot, a segment slide, nieans for actuating said slide, and connections Whereby said slide will swing the thread guides in opposite` directions, said guides having gates adjacent the thread passages. l

6. In a knitting machine, a latch ring lhaving an opening for the passage of yarn, yarn changing mechanism adjacent said opening, and pivotally mounted gates movable in e plane toward and from the needles to close a portion of said opening, said gates having laterally` beveled portions to deflect displaced needle latches back to operative positions.

'i'. ln a knitting machine, a 'yarn changer comprising. a. pair of pivotally mounted thread guides, a segment slide, means for actuating said slide, and connections whereby said slide will swing the thread guides in opposite directions., said guides having gates adjacent the thread passages, said gates having laterally beveled edges.

ya substantially 8. A yarnchanging mechanism' for knitting machines, comprising a pair oi' arms mounted on vertical pivots and having thread guides movable in a subsantialiy horizontal plane toward and from the needles, and a segment slide for actuating saicl arms and their guides.

9. A yarn-changingmechanism for knitting machines, comprising a, pair of arms mounted on vertical pivots and having thread guides movable ina substantially horizontal plane toward and 4from the needles, a segment 'slide having means for actuating said arms and for locking heni in or ons of position, and means for actuating said sliclc.

10. A yarn-changing mechanism for imitiing machines, having a latch ring provided with slot, and an oscillating thread guide or holder having horns adapiecl toziltcrnotely cross said slot.

il. A knitting acliine having a latch ,ring provided with an opening for she passage oi" yarn, and'yarn changing mecilai'iism compiisingl,r a pair of arms mounted on Yeriical pivots on opposite sirles of said opening, said arms having iliread guides movable in horizontal plane lironggli said opening, each arm .having a plate proi-'ifled with two langcs forming gates for said opening.

12. A knitting machine having a, latch ring provideL with an opening for ihc pagssage of igHl'Il, and yarn changing; mechanism comprising a. pair of sims mounted on vertical pii'o's on. opposiif sides of seid opening, said arms lmif'ing' shroud guides movable in a substansally horizontal plane through said opening each arm haring a plaie :idjnshably connieol io it, suini plaies having iangcs forming gaies for scifi openingn f '13. A kniting machine having means for producing continuous 'or reciprocating imitting, yarn changing mechanism, i rotatably supported Abobo-in carrier, means for locking saisi carrier io liolei is siainonary, and means for siinnlinneonsiy coniroliin the ynin changing mechanism and che bo bin carrier.

1li, i knitting machine having means for producing coni'innons or reciprocating knitting, yarn changing mechanism, lsi rotatably supported bobbin carrier, ai lock slide for said carrier, means for rotating the carrier When'unlocked, and means for shifing scid slide to vunlock the carrier for con nous knitting and to loci: it ior reciprocsing knitting.

v15. A knitting machine having Ineens for producing continuous or reciprocniing imitcing, yarn, changing mechanism, tension (ievices for the yarns, and ineens for suizo- `vmatically controlling said tension aievices 'io actuated levers and connections 'whereby ons snpplcnicnis the action ci? the other. l

l?. A knitting' machine having means im? producing continuous or reciprocaing ting, yam changing mechanism, n yarn supply, means for anomaiically varyd ing the icnsion ori-the yarns, pivoseci. np arms7 springs normally neiging to throw said arms onwardly, and means for swingn ing said arms in opposition to their springs and holding them in inopersive posiions during continuous lmitting, ssiol niesgns for so swinging the arms comprising rods for aci" ing on said arms, a collar having orrns so which rods are connected, and menos for automatically oscillating saiiil eolien 18. A limiting machine ,having o 4isicli ring provided with an opening, e. pair o devices for bridging 4scifi opening, saisi tra devices being pivoisiiysnpporeni of outside the inner wall oi the inici?. lvmesns for altcrnsteiy shifting ssici sevices across saisi opening from oppcsiis thereof.

19, A limiting machine having s, latch iiprovided with an opening, menos for l1 ing the upper portion of scifi opening, s rote ineens for bridging the lows 1c of scid opening and means for hrilging ineens..

20. A insisting machine 'hai/ing s l provided wich an opening for iie o, of yarn guides, gaies for closing; tions of she opening through wir guides operaio, und siippicmeniiei low ssicl gates to cross the iower pori. ci opening. Y

ln iesimony whereof? i have signature in presence ofi-wo Winesses,

Wiineges:

C. F. iisown, @Ernie 

